Proteome-wide drug and metabolite interaction mapping by thermal-stability profiling

A method for profiling alterations in protein thermal stability after ligand binding using mass spectrometry identifies the cellular protein targets of drugs and metabolites in living cells. Thermal stabilization of proteins after ligand binding provides an efficient means to assess the binding of small molecules to proteins. We show here that in combination with quantitative mass spectrometry, the approach allows for the systematic survey of protein engagement by cellular metabolites and drugs. We profiled the targets of the drugs methotrexate and (S)-crizotinib and the metabolite 2′3′-cGAMP in intact cells and identified the 2′3′-cGAMP cognate transmembrane receptor STING, involved in immune signaling.